11 Sci-Fi Movies To Watch Before They Leave Netflix In A Week (Including 2 Masterpieces)

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Unfortunately, 11 sci-fi movies currently available on Netflix will be removed on December 31st. Netflix regularly updates its selection of movies and shows, taking some off and adding new ones. This helps keep the content fresh and avoids unnecessary licensing costs for titles that aren’t popular.

Most Netflix subscribers don’t watch all the shows and movies available each month, so a lot of great content goes unnoticed. This December, Netflix is removing a surprisingly large number of popular sci-fi films, so if you’re a fan, be sure to watch these 11 movies before they’re gone.

11) Battleship

Following the huge success of the Barbie movie, companies like Hasbro are trying to create film franchises from their popular toys and games. But not all of these attempts work – a prime example is Battleship, a 2012 film currently available on Netflix that didn’t quite hit the mark.

Peter Berg’s film brings the classic board game to life as a realistic, action-packed sci-fi adventure. Starring Taylor Kitsch and Alexander Skarsgård, the movie follows Navy officers who uncover an alien invasion of Earth. To protect the planet, the U.S. Navy is forced to join forces with the Japanese military to fight off the invaders.

The 2012 movie Battleship doesn’t resemble the board game it’s based on, and has been a frequent target of online criticism since its release. It wasn’t successful financially, earning $303 million on a $220 million budget, and critics didn’t like it either, giving it a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

10) Cowboys & Aliens

Released in 2011, Cowboys & Aliens was initially met with a lot of criticism, but its over-the-top style has since gained it a dedicated fanbase. The film, directed by Jon Favreau, features Daniel Craig as a cowboy who must rally a Western town to fight off an alien invasion. It also boasts a surprisingly impressive cast, including Harrison Ford, Paul Dano, Olivia Wilde, Sam Rockwell, and Walton Goggins.

Despite having a cool idea – cowboys versus aliens! – the movie Cowboys & Aliens didn’t do very well in theaters. It cost about $163 million to make, and only brought in $174.8 million. Critics weren’t thrilled either, giving it a 44% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s still enjoyable and worth checking out on Netflix before it’s gone in a week.

9) Deep Impact

Released in 1998, Deep Impact is a well-known science fiction film directed by Mimi Leder and starring Elijah Wood, Morgan Freeman, and Tea Leoni. The story centers on a journalist who uncovers a government cover-up: a comet is on a collision course with Earth, potentially causing its destruction. The government then develops a plan to destroy the comet using a team of astronauts in a desperate attempt to save the planet.

Steven Spielberg helped produce the movie Deep Impact, which did well in theaters, earning $349.5 million on an $80 million budget. However, critics weren’t as impressed; it currently has a 45% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

8) Idiocracy

The satirical comedy Idiocracy, known for sparking debate and discussion, is being removed from Netflix at the end of the month. Released in 2006, the film follows Joe Bowers, played by Luke Wilson, who volunteers for a hibernation experiment. He’s accidentally frozen for 500 years and wakes up in 2505 to find that intelligence levels have dropped so dramatically, he’s become the most intelligent person on the planet.

Despite flopping in theaters and earning just $495,000 with a $2.4 million budget, the film found an audience after it came out on DVD. As of today, it has a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, showing that people still enjoy this funny science fiction movie.

7) K-PAX

The 2001 film K-PAX is a bit under the radar, so it’s worth watching on Netflix while you can. Directed by Iain Softley, it features Jeff Bridges as a psychiatrist who treats a patient, played by Kevin Spacey, who insists he’s an alien from a faraway planet. As the doctor investigates, he starts to wonder if his patient might actually be telling the truth, making for a compelling and thought-provoking sci-fi story that explores the human mind.

Despite costing $68 million to make, the movie K-PAX only earned $65 million at the box office and wasn’t a commercial success. Critics had mixed reactions to it, and it’s largely been forgotten. Recently, though, it’s gotten some attention on Netflix, so science fiction fans might want to watch it while it’s still available.

6) Limitless

Okay, so I’m a big fan of thrillers, and Limitless from 2011 is one I always recommend. It’s directed by Neil Burger and stars Bradley Cooper as a struggling writer who finds this crazy drug that basically unlocks his full mental potential. He gets really smart, really fast, which naturally attracts attention. Robert De Niro plays this super-powerful guy who wants to get his hands on the drug because, well, money and power, right? It’s based on a novel called The Dark Fields, and it’s a really clever, fast-paced movie.

The movie was a big hit in theaters, making over $161 million on a $27 million budget. Critics generally liked it, giving it a 68% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. If you’re interested, it’s still available to stream on Netflix for a few more days.

5) Star Trek

The 2009 film Star Trek launched the latest series of Star Trek movies and was generally well-received by fans. Directed by J.J. Abrams, the story centers on James T. Kirk, played by Chris Pine, and the crew of the USS Enterprise as they confront a dangerous Romulan commander threatening all of humanity.

The movie did well at the box office, bringing in $385.7 million on a $150 million budget. More importantly, it successfully rebooted the Star Trek franchise, leading to several sequels, TV series, and other related projects since 2009. Critics also loved it, giving it a 94% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it an excellent entry point for new Star Trek fans – though opportunities to experience it may be limited soon.

4) Star Trek: Beyond

Fans of the newer Star Trek films have limited time to watch Star Trek Beyond on Netflix. Released in 2016 and directed by Justin Lin, the movie follows the crew of the Enterprise after a crash landing on a hostile planet. They must battle the planet’s inhabitants and find a way to escape. Star Trek Beyond was a financial success, earning $343.5 million worldwide on a $185 million budget, and it currently holds an 86% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

3) Terminator 2: Judgement Day – Masterpiece

Most people consider James Cameron’s 1991 film, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, to be the best in the Terminator series and one of the greatest action movies ever made. The story follows a new, shape-shifting Terminator sent back in time to eliminate John Connor. To protect him and his mother, Sarah Connor, the resistance sends back a reprogrammed T-800 Terminator.

Terminator 2 is widely considered the best film in the Terminator series, and a high standard for sequels in general. Many view it as director James Cameron’s greatest achievement, and every subsequent Terminator movie has tried to replicate its success. The film was a huge critical and commercial hit, earning a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and grossing over $520 million worldwide on a $102 million budget.

2) Tenet

Christopher Nolan’s movies have recently explored historical stories and grand fantasy adventures, but his 2020 film, Tenet, brought him back to the complex science fiction he’s known for. The film, which sparked a lot of debate, features John David Washington as a secret agent who travels through time—both forward and backward—to stop a potential World War III.

I have to say, while some people find Tenet really confusing – and it is a complex story! – I think it’s brilliantly done. The visuals are stunning, the idea behind it is unlike anything I’ve seen before, and the acting is fantastic. Plus, I really admire that it helped keep movie theaters afloat when they needed it most after the pandemic, especially considering it made over $365 million on a $205 million budget. It’s a truly impressive film.

1) The Martian – Masterpiece

Ridley Scott, the director behind classics like Alien and Blade Runner, created another sci-fi hit with The Martian. The film follows astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon, who is mistakenly believed to be dead after an accident leaves him stranded on Mars. He must use his ingenuity to survive, find a way to signal Earth that he’s still alive, and ultimately, find a way to return home.

With a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film is widely considered a standout sci-fi movie from the 2010s. It really explores the scientific possibilities of its premise, fully realizing the idea of human life on Mars. The movie was a huge commercial success, earning $630.6 million on a $108 million budget, but it will be removed from Netflix at the end of December.

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2025-12-24 18:12